National Memorial Arboretum

[McMouse]

Went there this week and found it an extremely moving experience. It really brings it home when you see how many of our young men and women have lost their lives in the service of this country in recent years.

[emmie]

apologies for not knowing but where is it?

[tonyav]

Alwewas sp nr Lichfield.

[McMouse]

http://www.thenma.org.uk/

This should do it.

[paddywak]

These sort of places are always moving mouse. I remember years ago while on a pub trip to Belgium and a few of us took one of the old boys, a veteran of WWI, to visit the Menin Gate for the last post ceremony.Even now years later just thinking about it brings a lump to my throat.

[McMouse]

We're planning a trip to the Menin Gate in the Spring. I'm looking forward to it but know it will be very emotional paddywak.

[tonyav]

If you go to the Danzig Alley cemetery McMouse, say hello to my Great Uncle Earnest for me. Died first day of the Somme 1916 1st Battalion, South Staffs Regiment, He won the Military Medal that day.

[paddywak]

It is that mouse, you read and see programs about the Western Front, but when you see that memorial with I think 58,000 names on it it certainly puts it in proportion, especially when you remember that these were just the men who "disappeared" a relatively small number of the total casualties.

[McMouse]

My family was fortunate not to have lost anyone in either WW1 or 2 tonyav. I've been a member of the RBL for nearly 45 years and have the greatest respect for all who made the supreme sacrifice.

[tonyav]

So have I McM, my poor Great Grand Ma lost two of her boys in that God forsaken war, the one I mentioned on the Somme and William who was killed when the Destroyer he was on was sunk in the North sea 1917.

[zebo]

We had a memorable Channel crossing around the 45th anniversary of Dunkirk, lots of veterens going over and they were telling us about their experiences, it was hard to reconcile these old men with the stories they told. One man kept getting called a fraud, "Never got his bl@@dy feet wet!", he'd apparently managed to stay on a mole and be rescued from there. They talked very movingly about friends who hadn't managed to get away or who died in subsequent battles. Interestingly enough, there was little bitterness towards the enemy, they were seen as "lads like us, where they didn't want to be".